God s Continuing work of Grace 8/26/18 Introduction: Yesterday we had a great work day. We were able to get done all that we wanted to get done. We were able to fix the projector screen and put dirt all alone the grassy side of the building to get the water to run away from the building and not into the basement. That amount of work could have never been done by myself. I am not physically capable of doing that kind of work anymore. Even if I was physically able it would have taken me years to complete the work. There was no way I could have put the scaffolding together by myself. There is no way I could have taken down the projector screen by myself. Praise God we had about ten Burmese come to help yesterday. We were able to get all the work done in three hours. This is like the grace of God. There is no way we are capable of living a victorious Christian life or to serve God in ministry without the help of God s grace. God s grace helps to get all that is needed to be done. Scriptures: 2 Corinthians 9:8 And God is able to make all grace abound to you, so that always having all sufficiency in everything, you may have an abundance for every good deed. Ephesians 3:20 Now to Him who is able to do far more abundantly beyond all that we ask or think, according to the power that works within us, I. God s Work of Grace at Salvation A. We are saved only on the basis of God s grace 1. Not on any merit of our own 2. God s grace is His unmerited favor because of our faith in Christ B. God s grace does wonderful things for us at our salvation 1. By grace all our sins are forgiven 2. By grace we are justified, declared forgiven and righteous before God 3. By God s grace we are given new spiritual life 4. By God s grace we are reconciled with God 1
II. God s Continuing Work of Grace A. The work of God s grace does not stop at salvation 1. We need to understand that God s grace continues to work throughout our Christian life 2. Not understanding how God s grace continues to work in us will greatly hinder our spiritual growth a. We will struggle to serve God in our own strength b. Our weaknesses will defeat us c. We will not have the strength to endure d. We will be insecure in our salvation 3. Salvation opens the door for God s grace to begin its work in us 4. Salvation opens the door of heaven s blessing and favor B. God s grace continues giving us unmerited favor 1. Many Christians think that once they are saved they are left on their own to live the Christian life. 2. After salvation, many Christians believe they have to maintain their salvation through works of merit. 3. Many Christians believe that now that they are saved they have to earn God s favor. If they sin, they believe that they have lost God s favor. They try to regain God s favor through good works. 4. Some believe that the only way to regain God s unmerited favor is to get resaved. 5. Just as we needed God s grace for salvation, we need it to continue in our salvation. 6. We are saved by grace and we continue in our salvation only by God s grace. Every day we live in Christ is a day we live in God s grace. 2
C. God s grace gives us power to live out our salvation 1. There are far more scriptures that speak about God s grace as God s power than scriptures about being saved by God s grace. 2. We need to equate God s grace with His power 3. God s grace includes His unmerited gifts of power to help us live a godly life and to serve Him. 4. God s grace enables us to live a victorious Christian life D. God s grace is limitless 2 Corinthians 9:8 1. God s power is limitless and so is His grace 2. God s grace always gives us more than what is needed for any specific need or challenge. 3. It is not as if God just gives us a little of His grace and the rest is left up to us. 4. God s grace is more than sufficient. It is exceedingly abundant. And God is able to make all grace abound to you, so that always having all sufficiency in everything, you may have an abundance for every good deed. 2 Corinthians 12:9 (NASB95) 9 And He has said to me, My grace is sufficient for you, for power is perfected in weakness. Most gladly, therefore, I will rather boast about my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may dwell in me. Ephesians 3:20 5. God s grace can do more than we can imagine Now to Him who is able to do far more abundantly beyond all that we ask or think, according to the power that works within us, E. God s grace is diverse 1 Peter 4:10 (NASB95) 3
10 As each one has received a special gift, employ it in serving one another as good stewards of the manifold grace of God. 1. God can give us His grace to work in various special ways depending on what is needed. 2. Peter describes God s grace as being manifold. Something being described as being manifold means that it has many diverse elements. This means that God s grace can be dispersed as many differing kinds of gifts to each individual person. 3. God can tailor-make His gifts of grace to fit each individual in his specific needs or requirements. God gives each individual special gifts that will enable him to overcome his challenges and to serve others through God s enabling grace. Illustration: The few times that I have purchased a suit at Joseph A. Banks I have always had to have a tailor adjust the size to make it fit properly. I would stand in front of a mirror and the tailor would have a piece of chalk to mark where he needed to make adjustments in the size. This is just like how God tailor-make His gifts of grace for us. God gives His enablement to fit our exact need. 4. Through God s grace He makes His power available to all those who have been born again through the indwelling of the Spirit of God. It is with the indwelling of the Holy Spirit at salvation that a person is given gifts of grace (God s specific enablement). F. God s grace begins with salvation and then continues to work in the believers lives by strengthening, sustaining, sanctifying, serving through them, and finally securing them. 1. Grace Strengthens us 4
a. In our weaknesses b. In our inadequacies 2. Grace Sustains us a. Through our failures b. Through our trials c. Through our times of grief d. Enables us to endure 3. Grace Sanctifies us a. Removes sin b. Removes condemnation c. Develops righteousness in us 4. Grace Serves through us a. Gives the motivation to serve b. Gives the ability to serve 5. Grace Secures us 5